Upcoming Special Session is an Opportunity to Continue Work on a Comprehensive Fiscal Plan

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASESeptember 22, 2017

Anchorage – Speaker of the House Bryce Edgmon (D-Dillingham) issued the following statement in response to Governor Walker’s proclamation calling the 30th Alaska State Legislature into a 4th Special Session next month. The Governor is asking lawmakers to consider criminal justice reform legislation and a bill to create new revenue for the State of Alaska.

“Our Coalition’s number one goal is to respond to the ongoing fiscal crisis and recession by developing and passing a comprehensive fiscal plan, as we did during the regular session. However, our commitment in the House is meaningless unless the Senate follows suit,” said Speaker Edgmon. “We are cautiously optimistic that the demonstrated need for fiscal solutions will be recognized by the State Senate. If they work with us and we all work with the Governor, solutions can be found that will protect the economy and the thousands of jobs and livelihoods at risk from continued legislative inaction.”

“The members of the Coalition are committed to protecting public safety and ensuring that the Alaska State Troopers and other law enforcement agencies have the tools and resources they need to protect Alaskans in their homes and businesses,” said Speaker Edgmon. “We will work cooperatively with the members of the State Senate and the House Minority Caucus on the proposed changes to Alaska’s criminal justice statutes called for in Senate Bill 54, which Governor Walker included on the call for the upcoming Special Session.”

The 4th Special Session of the 30th Alaska State Legislature is scheduled to begin on October 23rd in Juneau.